Poultry feeder



May 15, 1956 M. E. WALLACE ETAL POULTRY FEEDER 3 SheetsSheet 1 FiledJuly 31. 1952 INVENTOR. '7 69%44Aw ,L l /alfiu M aw,

y 15, 1956 M- E. WALLACE EI'AL 2,745,381

POULTRY FEEDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31. 1952 ELLE INVEN TOR. wzwwu flffflwa BY flu p M May 15, 1956 M. E. WALLACE ETAL 2,745,381

POULTRY FEEDER Filed July 31. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wm i hlll IIIL 15INVENTOR.

United States Patent POULTRY FEEDER Maurice E. Wallace and Robert F.Wallace, Delphi, Ind., assignors to Feed-O-Matic ManufacturingCorporation, Delphi, Ind., a corporation Application July 31, 1952,Serial No. 301,842

6 Claims. (Cl. 19-52) This invention relates to feeding apparatus, andmore specifically to apparatus particularly well suited to use inpoultry feeding where large scale operations in the raising of poultryare carried out.

In general, where large scale poultry operations are required, thefeeding of great numbers of chickens or the like may often occupy aconsiderable amount of time, and therefore the provision of a suitableapparatus which will carry out the feeding operation with therequirement of a minimum amount of attendance on the part of theoperator, is seen to be a particularly desirable advance in the art.

Heretofore, many different types of feeding apparatus have been proposedand even used in some instances, but in view of the relative complexityof the same, are not presently in use, involving as they do parts whichare subject to deterioration in carrying out the operation, and whichactually donot operate efficiently, and evenfurther are tremendouslyexpensive to install. In addition, one of the previously existingdifiiculties has been to supply a suitable feeding apparatus which didnot result in injury to the poultry being fed.v This has not heretoforesuccessfully been accomplished, and particularly at a cost whichjustifies such installation.

It is therefore a principal object. of this invention .to provide asuitable poultry feeding apparatus which may be readily installed, andincludes a minimum number of parts which are relatively simple tomanufacture, and yet carry out the feeding operation very efficiently.

his a further object of this invention, to provide a poultry feedingapparatus which comprises asingle supply hopper, for example, which isadapted to furnish feed to. a, simple conveying and supporting unit,which conveying and supporting unit will simultaneously deliver suitablequantities of feed at intervals sufiicient so that all of the poultrybeing fed may feed at the same time.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a feedingapparatus of the class described which may be installed in a suitablebarn, and being of relatively elongated, form, extend a substantialdistance throughout the same, supplying feed at spaced intervals andsimultaneously at all, of the intervals therealong.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangementof feeding apparatus whereby the feeding apparatus may be installed in abarn or similar location, and by certain unique provisions, enable thesupplying of feed in a relatively large area, and yet in a continuousand simultaneous manner as desired. It is a still further object of thisinvention to provide a feeding apparatus which maybe operatedforintervals of time in accordance with the requirements of the poultrybeing fed, whereby a minimum amount of waste is permitted, and yet amplequantities of feed'are delivered simulta neously to all parts of theapparatus.

A further object of the invention is to. provide an apparatus whichmaybe provided with a feed storage bin in one location, and by a relativelyelongated feeding and conveying unit transfer the feed throughout thesubstantial 2,745,38l Patented May 15, 1956 distance, and deliver thefeed simultaneously throughout this substantial distance whereby theusual crowding and unequal distribution of feed is eliminated.

Other and further objects of this invention will be set forth in theaccompanying specification and illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partially illustrating the apparatus, certainportions thereof being shown in longitudinal section,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken about on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the manner inwhich the feed is distributed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, somewhat enlarged, illustrating theinstrumentalities availed of to change the direction of the feeding andconveying unit.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a section of the screwconveyor member.

Figure 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, being largely a top plandisclosure of the general arrangement of one form of the. feedingapparatus.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of corner unit.

Figure 8 is an end view in elevation of the corner unit of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken about on the line 9-9 ofFigure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified form of feed supporting andconveying member or unit, similar to that shown in Figure 2.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 6, the feeding apparates of thisinvention is shown as generally comprising a feed storage means denoted1, a feed supporting and conveying unit denoted 2, and an operating andtiming unit designated 3.

First describing the feed storage means, it will be seen that the sameis in the form of a round hopper 4 tapering at 5 towards the bottom 6.The hopper 4 is suitably supported by legs 7 fastened on the taperingportion 5 of the hopper, and is provided at its bottom 6 with an opening8. Within the hopper, is an agitator which includes a substantiallyvertical shaft 9 guidingly supported by a transverse bracket 10intermediate the ends of the shaft 9, the lower end of the shaft 9 beingequipped with a. bevel gear 11. Of course, it will be understood thatthe shaft 9 at its lower end extends through the bottom 6 in a suitableopening.

At the upper end of the shaft 9, the same is provided with a universaljoint, including a part 12 fixed to the shaft 9, and a part 13universally connected to the part 12. Suitably carried by the part 13and fixed thereto, is a further shaft 14, on the outer end of which isan arm 15 having fingers 16 extending therefrom. It is noted that theupper shaft 14 is not guided in any manner, but is free to move aroundin the interior of the bin or hopper 4, when rotated by the bevel gear11 previously mentioned, and is adapted to keep the feed stored in thehopper 4 from packing therein, and assist the flow of feed through theopening 8.

The feed supporting and conveying unit 2, is as shown in Figure 2,generally comprised of a trough 17, having a fiat bottom member 18thereon, and the upwardly extending side members 19 and 20. divergeoutwardly from their connection with the bottom member 18, and at theirouter extremities are provided with lips 21 and 22 respectively, whichare turned somewhat illwardly. Within the trough 17, a suitable conduit23 of generally rectangular configuration in reality being formed so asto be an inverted U-shaped member, includes opposite sides 24 and 25. Atthe lower ends of The side. members 20 the sides 24 and 25, flanges 26and 27 are formed so as to extend outwardly from the side members andprovide 'means for fastening the conduit 23 in place on the bottom 18 ofthe trough 17, by welding or the like.

As seen in Figure l, the side is shown as being provided with a seriesof spaced holes or openings 28, the

same extending throughout the length of the conduit 23.

' it will be understood that the trough 17 is of an elongated nature,and relatively narrow, and that the conduit 23 extends throughout thelength of the trough. Within the conduit 23, a special screw 29; isprovided. The screw 29 includes a shaft .36 with the spiral member- 31suitably fixed thereto. The pitches of the spiral member are spaced soas to substantially correspond with the spacing between the openings 28for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth.

At the end of the feed supporting and conveying unit which is nearestthe feed storage hopper 4, the same is adapted to be suitably fastenedso as to receive throughv the opening 8 feed descending from the hopper.

The screw 29 at its inner end, and by means of the shaft 30 thereof, issupported in a suitable pillow block 32 resting on the bottom 18 of thetrough. The shaft 30 extends outwardly beyond the end of the trough 17,and is equiped with a bevel gear 33 thereon, adapted to mesh with thebevel gear 11 previously mentioned.

7 speed reduction unit 34 is provided at its output side with a shaft 35upon which is suitably mounted a bevel gear 36. It will be apparent thatthe bevel gear 36 is in engagement with the bevel gear 11 previouslymentioned, and that rotation of the shaft 35 will effect simultaneousrotation of the shaft 9 of the agitator, and of the screw 29 of the feedsupporting and conveying unit 2. In order to effect a drive of the speedreducer 34, the same is connected by means of a shaft 37 to a motor 38.The operation of the motor 38 may preferably be controlled by atime-clock unit 39 of any conventional construction. The

main requirement of such a time-clock unit 39 is that the same isadapted to complete a circuit and effect operation of the motor 38 atsuitable intervals, which intervals may be adjusted as will besubsequently explained.

Under many conditions where it is desirable to provide for a greaterlength of feed supporting and conveying unit, and yet the straightawaylimitations of the barn or other place of installation exist, a changein direction in the said unit may be necessary. As shown in Figure 4,this change in direction may he efiected by provision of a further feedsupportingand conveying section designated 40, of similar configurationto that designated 2, and placed in an angular relation therewith. Inorder to provide for supplying feed to this unit 40, the shaft 30 of thescrew is supported in a pillow block 41 mounted .on the bottom '18 ofthe first unit mentioned, and equipped at the outer apparent thatrotation of the bevel gear 42 will impart rotation to the bevel gear 47and the screw '44. However, in order to insure that the feed movingoutwardly from the end of the conduit 23 is in'turn picked up by thescrew 44, a suitable plate '48 is provided, and seated over the bevelgears, and associated pillow blocks 41 and 46. Thus, when the corner soto speak is filled with feed, the same V V 4 will be picked up by thescrew 44 and transferred thereby so as to be forced through the-holes oropenings provided in the sides of the conduit 43 as is the conduit 23.

It is understood that any suitable supporting brackets 49 may beprovided so as to maintain the respective portions of the unit 2 and 40as the case may be, spaced from the floor of the barn as desired.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, in conjunction with .an explanation ofthe operation of the apparatus, it will the conduit in a manner such asillustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Since only a portion of the feed isextruded or forced through the respective openings, an additionalportion of the feed will be carried by the screw, and forced throughsucceeding openings. Thus, when the entire conduit has been once filledwith feed, subsequent operation of the screw therein, will force aquantity of feed out through the openings at each revolution of thescrew. It will also be apparent that as the motor 38 is operated, andthe speed reducer 34 likewise operated, the agitator within the hopper 4is similarly rotated and maintains a constant'supply of feed to the feedsupporting and conveying unit 2.

' In actual operation, it has been found that by suitable setting of thetiming unit 39 so as to effect an intermittent or periodic operation ofthe agitator and, screw, the same may be calculated so as to providesuflicient feed for all ages of poultry for example. It has specificallybeen determined that in a suitable apparatus of the nature hereindiscussed, poultry which has attained the age of approximately 6 weeks,requires that the screw be operated for a period of about 3 minutes eachhalf hour.- It will be obvious that correspondingly long periods (orshorter periods) may be provided for so as to deposit sutficient feed ateach one of the openings to care for a 7 large number of chickens or thelike who are being fed by the unit. In an actual apparatus constructedin accordance with the disclosure herein, the period of time duringwhich operation is effected may be increased gradually as the chickensgrow and since regular feeding is productive, growth is more uniform andencouraged thereby. It has further been found that since the peculiarform of conveyor unit provides simultaneous supply of feed at each oneof the openings, there is a materially reduced effort on the part of thepoultry to crowd and otherwise prevent weaker chickens or the like toobtain suitable quantities of feed. It will be apparent that since thefeed conveying and supporting unit 2 is of relatively long configurationdesirably, that a larger and greater length of feed supply is availableat all times. In addition, the formation of the trough 17 is found toconserve the feed so that the same is not scattered when the poultry isfeeding, and ithas further been found that by suitable timing of theoperation, there is no wasted feed at the extreme end of the feedconveying and supporting unit 2, since the feed is substantially allforced out of the openings 28 and thus waste is virtually eliminated.

It will be readily understood that the hopper 4 may be filled up withfeed in the morning, for example, and without further attention on thepart of the operator will effectively supply the demands of a largenumber of poultry throughout the day or for any predetermined periodwithin the capacity of the hopper 4.

' It should also be noted that the screw 29 may be provided in anysuitable length and is equipped at one end with a male threaded section50 on the shaft 30 adapted to coact with a correspondingly femalethreaded member of an adjacent screw. Thus, any length of feed conveyingand supporting unit may be provided, it being aerosol obvious that the.troughv 17:- may be made. in corresponding lengths and suitably fastenedtogether.

In Fig. 5, the special screw of this invention is illustrated in detailandfromthe view it will be seen that the pitches are each formed withwhat may be called a. backward inclination from the rootthereof to theouter edge. Thus the continuous blade comprising the pitches as a wholeis in reality sloping in a rearward. direction considering the righthand end of the section. shown, as the forward portion of the screw.

The formation just described provides for the extrusion of a portion ofthe feed through each of the openings in the sides of the conduit 23 asthe feed is being carried by the screw during rotation thereof.

In the modifications of certain of the elements, as shown in Figures 7to inclusive, and dealing at this point primarily with Figure 7, it isseen that a somewhat different form of corner arrangement is provided inorder to change direction of the feed supporting andv conveying unit.This unit of Figure 7 is understood to be of a form which may besubstituted for that shown in Figure 4, and essentially comprises atrapezoidal shaped body member, generally denoted 50, which includes thewalls 51 and 52, lying at substantially right angles, and connected attheir ends to walls 53 and 54. Intermediate the walls 51 and 52, thereis a further wall 55, which extends at an angle with relation to thewalls 51 and 52. Spaced toward the juncture of the walls 53 and 54, is acorresponding arrangement of walls including the parts 56, 57 and 58,the latter being largely parallel to and spaced from the walls 51, 52and 55. There is thus provided a passage for feed as will be presentlyexplained.

Suitably provided at and around the wall 51, there is a trough engagingmember 59 and at the wall 52, a similar trough engaging member 60 isprovided. As shown in Figure 8, the trough engaging member includes theupstanding sides denoted 61 and 62 for the member 60, and 63 and 64 forthe member 59. Within the members 59 and 60, are suitable conduitengaging sections denoted 6S and 66 it being apparent that by suitablemanipulation of the respective feed supporting and conveying units 17and 49 as shown in Figure 4, the same may be suitably engaged with therespective trough supporting members 59 and 60. The screw 29, forexample, may be positioned as shown in Figure 7, and in such positionthe same enters the conduit engaging portion 65 and in turn by suitablethreaded engagement is connected to a bevel gear 67 mounted on a shaft68 in a gear box chamber 69. The bevel gear 67 will be supported on theshaft 68 and suitably fixed thereto so as to rotate therewith, the shaft68 being supported in suitable bearings in the gear box portion 69.

A further bevel gear 70 is shown as being supported on a shaft 71, beingadapted to engage for example, with the screw 44 in any suitable manner,preferably by threaded engagement therewith so as to be removabletherefrom.

It will therefore be apparent that when the respective screws 29 and 44-are in their positions, and the said screw 29 is being rotated, forexample, such rotation will also be imparted to the screw 44. As thefeed is moved along into the passage between the walls 55 and 57 forexample, by the screw 29, the same will subsequently be picked up by thescrew 44 and forced out into the corresponding feed supporting andconveying unit 40 as will be apparent. In order to speed up the transferof the feed from the conveyor screw 29 to the screw 44, there is shownin Figure 9 a suitable bafiie 70a, placed over the screw 29 and adaptedto confine the feed thereto and therearoand so that it will be picked upby the screw 44. In addition, it will usually be desirable to provide acover for the entire unit just described so as to prevent the poultryfrom contact with the screws or gears provided.

-' As shown irrEigure 10,-. the feed: supporting and cori-- veyingunitmay be. formed of a. trough 73, similar to the trough; 17 previouslydescribed, and having a conduit 74 suitably fixed: at its lower endsv 75and 7.6. by welding or; otherwise to the. bottom 77 of: the trough unit73. This conduit 74LWJ11 of course be substantially rectangular as wastrue with the conduit previously described; and denoted: 24, being also,provided with suitable holes 78 in the sides thereof. In addition, thisparticular, form of conduit. is provided with flanges 79 and, 8t),suitably fixed by welding or otherwise to the upper portionv of theconduit and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. These flanges79 and 80 are provided for the obvious purpose of preventing the poultryfrom being. caught in the feed screw within the conduit 74 as would bepossible through the openings '78 therein. it should be. understood thatthe feed screw which in this instance. may generally be denoted S1, isformed like. the screws previously described, in that the same has.pitches which are. in effect lying at an angle in what may be termed arearward direction so as to compel a forcing outwardly of the feedthrough the openings 78 in a lateral direction. However, the forcing ofthe feed is not interfered with by the flanges 79 and 80, but in anyevent ready access is provided to the feed for the chickens or the likebeing supplied by the apparatus.

It will be understood further that by varying the angle of the pitcheswith respect to the axis of the shaft, in a backward direction aspreviously mentioned, the feed may be forced outwardly more rapidly ifdesired. However, it will be apparent that the forcing out of feed morerapidly, will also reduce the quantity of the feed to be carried alongby the screw, and therefore it is desirable to compromise between thetwo effects desired to be produced so as to most readily make availablethe feed to the poultry being supplied thereby. It will also beunderstood that the openings 78 for example, are desirably providedsubstantially midway between the upper and lower portions of the conduit74, so that the extruding effect above generally described may be mostreadily carried out. By varying the height of the openings 78 a similarvariation in the amount of feed being forced outwardly may be provided.

Under the best conditions of operation of the apparatus as shown anddescribed herein, the feed will substantially entirely fill the conduit,once the apparatus is started into operation, and a column of feed maybe said to be carried by the conveyor, certain portions of the columnbeing forced outwardly at intervals through the openings provided in thesides of the conduit. This general operation may be characterizedfurther by stating that the main stream of feed is carried by the screw,and at intervalsthrough out its length portions of that main stream aredirected laterally therefrom into positions for access by the poultrybeing fed.

The fact that the conduits 23 and 74 are rectangular, should also benoted since it has been found that this shape is particularly suitablewhen used in conjunction with the special screws disclosed. Such shapein effect provides what may be termed a reserve supply of feed, which isdrawn upon by the screw in the event that the quantity of feed betweenthe flights should for some reason he insuflicient to furnish the feedat a particular opening or openings.

We claim:

1. A feed supporting and conveying unit comprising an elongated feedsupporting member, a feed conveying device mounted thereon and extendingtherealong, said device including a conduit having a series of spacedlateral openings in one side above the bottom of said conduit and aconveyor member operable in said conduit to simultaneously forceportions of said body of feed laterally through said openings, and meansfor operating said device.

2. A unitas claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit is substantiallyrectangular, a second series of spaced openings are provided in anotherside of the conduit, and

the conveyor member consists of a screw.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed supporting member, isa trough, the conduit is substantially rectangular and mounted in thetrough on the bottom thereof, and the spaced openings are formed inopposite sides of the conduit.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor member is a screwand the openings in the conduit are spaced a distance approximatelyequal to the distance between pitches of the screw.

5. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor member consists ofa screw having the flights sloping toward the end thereof.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor member consists ofa screw having a central cylindrical shaft, and the flights comprise anendless fiat strip secured spirally thereto at the inner edge, thespiral plane References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Hohmann Mar. 20, Siefiert Mar. 1, Fence Aug. 26, McCornack June1, MacDonell Feb. 6. MacDonell Sept. 16, Sodders Oct. 18, Lipton July18, Alvarez Aug. 1, Inman Sept. 12, Dugan Aug. 7, Lesniak Sept. 11,Philipp Mar. '10, Virgil July 21,

than

